EUnetCCC White Paper Sets Roadmap For Sustainable Cancer Centres
Cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in Europe, with 2.7 million people diagnosed and 1.3 million deaths each year.
Despite advances, major inequalities persist in prevention, access to clinical trials and innovative therapies, and survival rates between and within Member States. To promote equality in cancer care among European citizens, the European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (EUnetCCC) was launched in October 2024 under the EU4Health Programme.
The European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (EUnetCCC) released its White Paper today: Unleashing the Potential of the Future European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres, a document that sets out a vision of how Europe can deliver equitable, high-quality cancer care to all citizens.
The report warns that, without coordinated action, disparities between countries and regions in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and access to care are likely to continue widening.
From Ambition to Permanence: Securing the Future of the Network
The White Paper notes that the current EUnetCCC Joint Action will conclude in 2028 and stresses that the network’s long-term success depends on transforming it into a permanent, well-anchored European infrastructure.
Without decisive political action, Europe risks losing the mobilisation achieved so far. Key policy and investment priorities outlined in the White Paper include:
- Recognising the EU CCC network as a strategic priority and a key instrument to implement the European Beating Cancer Plan, the Cancer Mission, and the European Health Union.
- Positioning the EUCCC Network as a unifying platform to deploy and scale up EU cancer initiatives, particularly to improve EU competitiveness in health and innovation.
- Establishing a clear institutional and legal anchoring within the EU framework to ensure sustainability and eligibility for long-term support.
- Creating a high-level governance mechanism, involving the European Commission, Member States and key stakeholders, to oversee strategic orientation and coordination.
- Securing dedicated long-term EU funding through the future Competitiveness Fund to support coordination, maintenance and development.
- Establishing dedicated EU grant schemes to support certification infrastructure development and capacity-building for CCCs in development or transition.
- Securing ring-fenced funding for patient involvement at both network and centre level, including remuneration, participation costs, and capacity-building.
By centralising expertise and pooling resources across borders, the network aims to reduce fragmentation, optimise investment, and accelerate the delivery of new treatments. It will also provide a reliable platform for EU-wide health initiatives, including personalised medicine, artificial intelligence, and cross-border clinical trials.
A New European Model for Cancer Excellence
The EUnetCCC initiative, launched under the EU4Health Programme and coordinated by France’s Institut National du Cancer (INCa), brings together 163 partners across 31 countries.
Its mission is to build a European network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres (CCCs) that connects care, research, education, and innovation within a single integrated framework.
A common EU certification scheme for CCCs will ensure that every patient, regardless of location, can access world-class diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and clinical research opportunities.
It will also support structured cooperation between countries, bridging the gap between established centres and those in regions with fewer resources.
“EUnetCCC marks a structural shift in how Europe tackles cancer. By connecting and certifying Comprehensive Cancer Centres across the continent, we are creating the conditions for innovation to reach patients faster, more fairly and more safely.
Securing this effort for the long term is now a shared responsibility,” said Thomas Dubois, Coordinator of EUnetCCC (INCa, France).
The White Paper positions EUnetCCC as the first initiative of the European Health Union, providing an integrated framework capable of turning research into real-world results, reducing inequalities, and ensuring progress reaches patients in all Member States.
The full White Paper is available at: www.eunetccc.eu
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